Issues: Climate Change

This summer New York has experienced record-breaking heat, which has lead New Yorkers to take refuge inside, where there are cooler temperatures. But lower temperatures inside often lead to higher energy costs. To help you save both energy and money, Senator Krueger recommends you take the following steps to make your home more energy-efficient:

Use Energy Star Products

Energy-efficient products may be more expensive to purchase but over time you can save about 30% on your energy bill. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10 to 50% less electricity than standard models. Go to http://www.energysavers.gov to get tips on how to save energy and which energy efficient products you can buy.

New York's budget crisis is forcing government at all levels to re-evaluate how it allocates increasingly rare public dollars. As officials seek to identify and eliminate wasteful and unnecessary spending, they will find some of the waste is hiding in plain sight.

Travel to downtown Buffalo or to many of the state's older suburbs and you'll find decaying sidewalks, half-empty shopping centers, vacant lots and abandoned homes. Then travel a few more miles into what was until recently open countryside, and you'll find big new homes sprouting from former farm fields. Meanwhile, the population of many counties and the state continues to decline.

The Senate Democratic Majority has passed a legislative package that will significantly reduce the costs of energy for homeowners and businesses statewide, putting money back into the pockets of families and making businesses more competitive. Not only is the adoption of energy efficiency programs beneficial economically but such programs help the State to achieve its environmental goals by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants, improving quality of life throughout the state.

Yesterday, the NYS Conference of Black Senators (CBS) unveiled their 2010 Signature Agenda issues and expressed their concerns regarding these particular bills not being brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Members of CBS truly believe that African American Communities have suffered long enough within the areas of Economic Development, Education, Health, Housing, Environment, Crime, Racism and Discrimination.

(New York, NY) – Today, in honor of Earth Day, State Senator Liz Krueger, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh launched a Statewide campaign to end government use of Styrofoam. The campaign kicked off with an early morning rally at Earth School, a Manhattan public school, and featured teachers, parents and students, all committed to ending the use of Styrofoam

Legislation passed by the New York State Senate Democratic Majority this week included a bill package demonstrating their commitment to environmental conservation and “green” job creation, as well as establishing a commission to study the health care services of children in foster care.

State Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) today applauded thepassage of several bills in the State Senate that mark the celebration ofEarth Day, and provide protections to reduce pollution and improve publichealth.“As a state, we continue to make good progress enacting policies thatprotect our environment, reduce the amount of pollution and protect againstexposure to harmful chemicals,” Senator Valesky said.

(New York, NY) Senator Liz Krueger and her colleagues in the Democratic Senate Majority passed a package of “Earth Day 2010” bills yesterday, marking a significant victory for the health of our environment. The bills will enhance New York’s stature as a “green” leader in a 21st Century economy and will implement protections to reduce waste and pollution.

Included in the package is a Rechargeable Batteries Recycling Program, sponsored by Senator Krueger.

Senator Brian X. Foley (D – Blue Point) helped pass major legislation to expand clean energy credits in New York State. The legislation (S. 6700) will enable residents to take full advantage of net metering, a program that offers utility bill discounts in exchange for unused power generated through alternative energy sources. The program applies to power generated through wind and solar energy sources.

After the devastation caused by the massive earthquake in Haiti, large numbers of people within the country are in desperate need of assistance. I am urging all of you to contribute to relief efforts by clicking on the link below and contribute to one of the ogranizations listed. Our thoughts go out to all of those that were affected by these events and the families and loved ones within our communities.